Conspiracy theories around 5G and microchip implants were on high rotation at lockdown protests over the weekend and experts say it's no coincidence the pandemic's producing fringe ideas.

Plus, the police watchdog has found officers who strip-searched underage teens didn't understand the law.



And, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on his vision for post-COVID Australia.

Conspiracy theories

Hack brings you the stories that matter to young people. Every weekday host Dave Marchese and the triple j Hack team cover the latest news, politics and culture from all around Australia.

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It's the Friday Shakeup and it's been a big news week. After a massacre in a Sydney shopping centre and an alleged terrorist act in a church two days later, a lot of people are feeling news fatigue. How do you cope?

And Caitlin Clark just signed the biggest rookie contract in the WNBA. The problem is it's about $85 million short of her male counterparts in the NBA. 

Plus, should the order you and your siblings were born in determine who you date? 

Host Dave Marchese is joined by podcasters Marty Smiley and Sarah-Jane Adams.

The Shakeup: avoiding the news, birth order dating and Caitlin Clark

Last year, Nathan Murphy won an AFL premiership with Collingwood. This year, he's medically retiring at only 24 years old. He's suffered 10 head knocks over his career and is stepping back on the advice of doctors due to ongoing concussion issues.

And non-binary trainee doctors are experiencing harassment twice as much as their male and female colleagues. Could this lead to worse outcomes for both doctors and patients?

Plus, HECS debts are predicted to rise by up to 4.8% and MP Monique Ryan has had enough. 

Guests
Monique Ryan, Independent MP for Kooyong
Nathan Murphy, retiring AFL player

Nathan Murphy quit footy to save his life

Zyn is the brand name for a synthetic nicotine pouch that goes under your lip. "Zynfluencers" are pushing them online claiming they'll give you more energy and better focus, but is this just another push from big tobacco?

And a lot of young people rely on community legal centres to help them when they get arrested, but those centres are at breaking point, and experts say it’s keeping young people behind bars.

Plus, homeless uni students in Tasmania are sleeping in their cars because there just isn't enough affordable housing for them. 

Guests:
Karly Warner, CEO, NSW/ACT Aboriginal Legal Service
Becky Freeman, associate professor of public health, University of Sydney

Are Zyns the new vapes?

An Australian man has been unmasked as an influential player in a new AI industry that harvests the content of real women to create fake influencers who push porn. 

And a stabbing during a church service on Monday night in Sydney's south-west has been labelled as a "terrorist attack". 

Plus, Woolies CEO Brad Banducci got told off for spouting "bullshit" in today's Senate inquiry into supermarket pricing. 

Guests:
Dr John Coyne, defence strategy expert, Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Nicola Henry, professor, RMIT

Who are the AI pimps pushing porn?

Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case is now over, with a judge on the Federal Court finding that, on the balance of probabilities, Lehrmann did rape Brittany Higgins at Parliament House in 2019. It means Lehrmann has failed against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, after a trial that dragged on for months.

And over the weekend, Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, with the strikes marking the first time Iran has targeted Israel directly from its own soil. So what does this mean for conflict in the Middle East? 

Plus, Australia is still reeling after six people were killed at a shopping centre in Bondi Junction in Sydney on Saturday in a stabbing attack. Today, the attacker's parents spoke out, as new details about the victims were released.

Guests:
Jamie McKinnell, court reporter, ABC
Javed Ali, associate professor, University of Michigan
Melissa Mackay, reporter, ABC

Conspiracy theories

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